Stocking.



MI ELLIS.

\ STOCKING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1914.

1,220,209. Patented Mar. 27,1917.

3mm Her-2 1's Ellis MORRIS ELLIS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STOCKING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

Application filed August 19, 1914. Serial No. 857,440.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mourns ELLIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stockings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in stockings, the object of the invention being to provide a stocking which is cut from a tube or sheet of woven material so that the heel may be given a natural shape and the ankle may be made narrower than the leg of the stocking, so that the stocking will maintain its shape regardless of wear.

A further object is to provide a stocking of the character described which can be manufactured and sold at an extremely low price, and which will be strong and durable in use.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan vi ew illustrating my improved stocking as it is cut from a tube of woven material with the entire outline of the calf of the leg as well as the ankle, heel, and foot cut to shape.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a stocking in which the upper portion of the stocking is the full width of the tube, and

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating my improved stocking after being moistened and shaped on a form.

1 represents a tube of woven material. This tube may be made of the ordinary flex ible material from which stockings are ordinarily formed, and may be made in any desired length and from it the stockings may be cut as will now be described.

The tube 1, while flat, is cut as indicated in Fig. 1 to form the toe portion 2, heel 3, and ankle 4 as well as the calf portion 5 of the stocking. In other words, the tube is cut, to conform to the shape of the foot and the leg, along the back of the leg and the bottom of the foot. By this means the stocking may be given any desired shape so as to conform exactly to the shape of the leg. This is particularly desirable in ladies stockings to give to the ankle a width of material appreciably less than the width of the material at the calf of the leg, and to give a natural shape to the heel 3.

The stocking is sewed along the cut edge as shown at 6, and this sewing may constitute what is known as an elastic seam, so that it will not be uncomfortable to the wearer, and will expand and contract with the goods to prevent tearing of the seam and to render the stocking comfortable ti) the user.

After the stocking has been cut and sewed, or sewed and cut, as the case may be, it is dyed, and as it comes from the dyeing operation, it is moist and in this moist condition 18 dried upon a form which gives to the stock-' ing its proper shape along the front. In other words, the foot is caused to turn out at an angle, so that the stocking will have the natural shape of the leg and foot when it is removed from the form.

In Fig. 2, I illustrate a stocking in which the calf 7 of the leg is the full width of the tube 1, and only the toe 2, heel 3, and ankle portion 4 are cut out.

It will be noted that the heel and ankle portions are cut to shape so that the material itself is of the proper shape to conform to the shape of the heel and ankle without relying upon any stretching or shrinking due to the stocking on the form.

Ordinarily, stockings are woven in general tubular shape, and then while'moist are dried upon a form to give to the ankle and heel the proper shape, or else the heel is woven in a different manner and gives to the stocking what is known as a bag heel. These stockings after they are worn for a while, lose their shape and become full and loose around the ankle, and also give a surplus of material at the heel which render the stocking uncomfortable.

My improved stocking as it is cut to shape will maintain its shape naturally, as the drying or pressing operation of the form is not relied upon to give to the heel and ankle its shape, but the material is actually out out to conform to the shape of the foot and leg.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, stitching, then moistening the stocking and What I claim as new and desire to secure by finally shaping the front of the same while Letters Patent is: drying it, substantially as described.

The herein described method of making In testimonywhereof I have signed my 5 stockings consisting in first forming a tube name to this specification in the presence of 15 of fabric, flattening the fabric, then, While two subscribing Witnesses.

the tube is laid flat, cutting it on a line to MORRIS ELLIS. shape the same in conformity With the rear Witnesses: of the leg, ankle, heel, and foot of a person, M. E. DITTUs,

10 then seaming the cut edges by an elastic CHAS. E. POTTS. 

